Jon Stewart to leave Comedy Central's The Daily Show by the end of 2015

Jon Stewart will leave The Daily Show when his contract expires at the end of 2015, after hosting the late-night show for almost 17 years. Stewart announced the news during Tuesday's taping, and Comedy Central later confirmed he is stepping down as the satirical news program's host.

For the better part of the last two decades, I have had the incredible honor and privilege of working with Jon Stewart. His comedic brilliance is second to none.

Jon has been at the heart of Comedy Central, championing and nurturing the best talent in the industry, in front of and behind the camera. Through his unique voice and vision, ‘The Daily Show’ has become a cultural touchstone for millions of fans and an unparalleled platform for political comedy that will endure for years to come.

Jon will remain at the helm of ‘The Daily Show’ until later this year. He is a comic genius, generous with his time and talent, and will always be a part of the Comedy Central family.

Jon Stewart took over anchoring The Daily Show after Craig Kilborn (remember him?) left to host CBS' The Late Late Show. The Daily Show helped launch the careers of comedians like Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert and most recently John Oliver, who after filling in for Stewart while he was filming ROSEWATER, landed his own late-night show on HBO, Last Week Tonight.

There's no word on what Jon Stewart will be doing with his free time, but ROSEWATER has received solid reviews, so perhaps he's interested in directing another movie, or being involved with a different type of TV show. What would you like to see Jon Stewart do next after he's finished with The Daily Show?